Paper-weight



P. B. 'WHIPPLB.

PAPER WEIGHT.

No 402,048. g a, Patented Apr. 23, 1889.

qwi cnwoeo, gmmmtoz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK B. WHIPPLE, QF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PAPER-WEIG HT.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,048, dated April23, 1889.

. Application filed January 21, 1833- Serial No. 261,495. (No model.)

T0 all whom/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK B. WHIPPLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsyl- Vania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Weights; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to paper-weights; and it consists in (3(153111improvements in the construction of the same, as will be hereinafterfully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a paper-weight which will notslip or slide when set onto a smooth inclined surface, as, for example,on the inclined page of a book. I attain the said object by facing thebearing-surface of the paper-weight with indiarubber of sufficientsoftness to give to it a high degree of friction.

My device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as follows:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of an open book with one page inclinedand my improved paper-weight resting on the inclined page. This viewfully illustrates the utility of the invention. Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 arevertical sectional views of the device, and they show several modifiedconstructions.

A represents the body of the Weight, and B the soft-rubberbearing-surface.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2 the rubber bearing-surface consistsof a round ring of rubber, b, secured in' a half-round groove, a, in thebottom of the weight. In Fig. 3 the bearing rubber surface is also around ring, b, which is held by its own elasticity in a propergroove a,in the outer lower corner of the weight. In Fig. 4 the bearing-surfaceis a flanged rubber ring, 11 which fits in a rabbet, a around the lowerouter corner of the weight, and extends under the weight. In Fig. 5 thebearing-surface is a plain rubber band, b secured to the weight byhaving its upper edge received in a square groove, (L in the bottom ofthe weight. In each of these forms the bearingsurface of the weight is afacing of indiarubber.

I am aware that it is common to face the bearing-surface ofpaper-weights, inkstands,

&c., with cloth for the purpose of giving a soft yielding surface, sothat they will not mar table-tops or make a noise when moved or set downsuddenly onto the table; but such a construction does not contemplate oreffect the purpose I accomplish.

The rubber facing .I employ effects the same object as the cloth facing,but the cloth facing does not effect the object I attain by the use ofsoft rubber. A weight faced with cloth will slide off of an inclinedbook-page as quickly and easily as if it were not faced, but when facedwith soft rubber. the weight will not slide on the paper at all. Inaddition to this adhesion of the-weight, by reason of the material ofwhich the facing is made,-

the annular form of the facing performs an important oflice orfunction'. a, when the weight is placed on the book or other object tobe held the gravity of the article is sufficient to partially excludethe air from beneath the paper-weight, so that a partial vacuum iscreated, and the adhesion is thus increased by suction. A slightpressure upon the weight will further increase this action, and thusprevent any possibility of the weight beingaccidentally displaced.

Any one accustomed to making or examining entries in large account-booksor registors has experienced the great need for a paper-weight that hasa sufliciently-adhesive bearing-surface to prevent it from slipping onthe paper, and will at once appreciate the utility of my device.

What I claim as new is- 1. As anew article of manufacture, apaper-weight having a soft india-rubber bearing-surface which is in theform of a ring which is held in place by its own elasticity.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a paper-weight having a softindia-rubber bearing-surface which is in the form of a ring, which issecured to the bottom of the weight by being set in a grooved orrabbeted space which conforms to the form of the ring.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a paper-weight having a softindia-rubber'bearing-surface which is in the form of a flanged ring.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK B. VVHIPPLE.

Witnesses:

JNo. K. HALLOOK, W. S. BROWN.

